Analysis of Rachel Held Evan’s Book “Inspired” Part 1: Introduction

I was asked by brother Alf to consider reading and offering my thoughts on liberal Rachel Held Evans’ book titled Inspired. Usually I take a long time reading books I disagree with and posting about it on my blog since I want my critique to be accurate of their view, logically sound in my arguments and that what I say is true.

In an interview Rachel Held Evans said this about her male critics who are pastors and seminarians:

Actually they don’t criticize my hermeneutics or my exegesis. They just say, “This woman has no authority to write about the Bible.” They don’t even attempt to engage the arguments that I make, and that’s what irritates me.

Note here she said they didn’t handle her hermenuetics, her exegesis nor her arguments but attack her as a woman. In this post and future posts I won’t be attacking her as a woman. I also think Rachel Held Evans’ statements about her detractors thus far shouldn’t be attributed to all those who disagree with her; that would not be fair. I think thoughtful reviews of any books takes time, even responses to terrible books because it takes time to be fair and offer sound arguments against a book’s perspective. Her book was released on June 12th, 2018 and her statement in that interview was on July 6th. Sometimes in academia it takes months or even over a year before there’s a critique from the other side. So for her to say no one who is a pastor and in seminary has critiqued her hermeneutics, exegesis and arguments is rather premature. It’s also strikes me as a bit narcissistic for someone who is professing to write a book admitting she’s not a Bible scholar to think meaningful responses from pastors and those in seminary should be served right away (3 weeks) when others who are more serious scholars get their response much slower.

In this post I will offer my thoughts on the “Introduction” for the book.

Much of her introduction tells us of how much she was your idealized stereotypical American Conservative Evangelical teenager who grew up having a life verse, was president of the high school Christian club, leader at her church’s youth groups, representing the Bible club at her school’s homecoming court and going off to college that taught from the Christian worldview (xv-xvii). In her 20s she had doubts about the Bible, lost her faith a dozen times and “become something of a Bible bully” (xvii-xviii). While there’s a sense I appreciate her giving her background of where she’s coming from I think it is appropriate to warn readers to be cautious not to think her autobiography mean she understood the arguments and positions of scholarly Conservative Evangelical Christians from her high school and undergraduate experience. I was disappointed to see the footnotes of the book lack citations of any scholars of contrary opinion from my initial survey; it seems she too need to heed her own words that as a critic (of Conservative Evangelicals) she needs to engage with their arguments instead of attacking the person such as saying they are anti-woman, etc. Finally I can’t help but to note her journey as opposite of mine; I grew up in a very liberal part of the United States (Left Coast) in a non-Christian household and my college experience was at a very liberal reputable secular university but by God’s grace in my journey I became a Conservative Evangelical. I bring this up to make the point that readers ought to be careful of not just taking her experience as an argument for her position nor assume that every critic of Rachel Evans has a “deep insecurity” or have what she described from her experience as “a move-along-nothing-to-see-here quality to their arguments that only reinforced my suspicion that maybe the Bible wasn’t magic after all, and maybe, deep down, they knew it” (xviii). While that might describe some people that hold positions contrary to her view that is not the case for every individual.

The introduction wasn’t just autobiographical; I think from pages xix-xx was very telling concerning her theological method:

Memorist Addie Zierman writes an online advice column, “Dear Addie,” for people who have left legalistic religious backgrounds. Recently a reader named Megan asked for advice on how to engage the Bible when it comes with so much baggage, when it tends to trigger more doubts than it resolves. Zierman advised Megan to think of the Bible not as one of those Magic eye books, which, with enough squinting and studying, reveal a single hidden image, but rather as a song that can be covered and remixed by variety of artists. ‘Find your cover artists,’ she wrote. ‘Find the voices that help you hear the same songs differently.’

Over the course of the last decade, I have discovered my cover artists–those scholars and poets, traditions and practices, that help make the bible sing. From the rich history of Jewish interpretation, I learned the mysteries and contradictions of Scripture weren’t meant to be fought against, but courageous engaged, and that the Bible by its very nature invites us to wrestle, doubt, imagine, and debate. Liberation theology (which views the Bible through the lens of becoming free from unjust conditions) and feminist biblical interpretations showed me how the stories of Scripture could be wisely appropriated for social good by pointing us to justice. The spiritual practices of Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation, which invite contemplative engagement with the text, helped me recover a devotional element to Scripture reading that had long ago gone missing.

Through their faithful example, my parents continue to remind me the whole purpose of biblical devotion is to be ‘thoroughly equipped for for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:17); and Old Testament scholar Peter Enns, whom I count as both a mentor and friend, has encouraged me to approach Scripture with a new set of questions, questions like ‘What if the Bible is just fine the way it is?…Not the well-behaved-everything-is-in-order version we create, but the messy, troubling, weird and ancient Bible that we actually have?’

These questions loosened my grip on the text and gave me permission to love the Bible for what it is, not what I want it to be. And here’s the surprising thing about that. When you stop trying to force the Bible to be something it’s not–static, perspicacious, certain, absolute–then you’re free to revel in what it is: living, breathing, confounding, surprising, and yes, perhaps even magic.”

She does reveal a lot of her theological methods here. It yields much dividend to be aware of the theological method of someone you disagree with and also to critique it since it is one’s theological methods that leads one to arrive at one’s theological position.

Here’s my response:

Note how her own theological method faces the problem of subjectivism. According to Evans in the first paragraph I quoted above the Bible is to be heard through the “cover artists” of one’s choice. These “cover artists” “remix” the Bible’s message in a way that she described as being the opposite of “squinting and studying” the Bible. Thus these “remixing’ is rather subjective. But if it’s all subjective and one can go about “remixing” the Bible according to one’s preference of one’s “cover artists,” there’s no point for her to criticize and make fun of someone else’s interpretation, something she does all too frequently. Her very theological method undermine her own criticisms of Conservative Evangelicals since if it is all subjective who should complain about what “cover artists” someone else prefer?

Rachel “cover artist” approach also contradicts her own view “stop trying to force the Bible to be something it’s not” that she stated two paragraphs later. On the one hand one engages the Bible by doing new “covers” and “remix” of it in a manner that is explicitly described as the opposite of “squinting and studying” the Bible to get its meaning. Yet on the other hand she wants readers to not force the Bible to be something it is not, since what the Bible objectively is, matters. She’s a walking contradiction.

In her criticism of Conservative Evangelicals that they should “stop trying to force the Bible to be something it’s not” we ask what are these doctrines that she believes Conservative Evangelicals have imposed unto the Bible? She said its the view of the Bible that Scripture is “static, perspicacious, certain, absolute.”

To say it is “static” is unhelpful as it is ambiguous; even the most adamant cecessionist believes God’s Word is dynamic in the sense that the Spirit speaks through it and is dynamic to speak today. But of course Conservative Evangelicals believe it is “static” in the sense that Scripture remain God’s Word and endures so. What does she mean by static? And is that term used pejoratively?

Evangelical doctrines of the Bible’s perspicacity is more nuanced than she probably realizes. It is not a denial that there are somethings in the Bible that is hard to understand while Scripture teaches that the Word of God is clear in many areas.

Finally it is amazing that the Conservative Evangelical view claims to be the Bible’s own teaching of the Bible and yet often times critics of Conservative Evangelicals often fail to handle the passages that teach on the nature of God’s Word itself and the passages that speaks on the Word being “perspicacious, certain, absolute” (along with verses that nuanced the doctrines). I wonder if later in the book Evans deal with this.

Although she complains that Conservative Evangelicals should “stop trying to force the Bible to be something it’s not” she is guilty of this herself.

She thinks Liberation Theology and Feminist Theology are legitimate “cover artists” in their use of the Bible. But they impose foreign presuppositions unto the Bible in their theology.

For instance Liberation Theology uses Marxists’ presuppositions as their starting point such as a certain economic theory and view of history.

Feminism also impose a view of manhood and womanhood that is contrary to what the Bible teaches concerning the complementary roles between man and woman.

Time does not permit me to do the legwork of documenting the foreign presuppositions imposed upon the text by Feminist theology and Liberation Theology. At minimum it is clear that the Bible is not a manual for liberation and revolution and the use of the Bible in that way is to force the Bible to be something it is not.

For Evans Left leaning ideology gets a pass in their appropriation of the Bible but not Conservative Evangelicals. One can’t help but to notice the political and partisan dimension in her approach towards the Bible. I also don’t know why on page xviii she had to tell us she voted for Barak Obama even though it had nothing to do with anything.

Evans also support “practices of Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation” which are also imposing something that is unbiblical. Check out this post on Catholic contemplative prayer.

I totally resonate with you here Lee! This is one of those times I’m doing exactly what you described: “I read these awful books so that you don’t have to.” For those that I pray need help and are looking for answers online….

Thanks for reading that wolf’s book and helping expose her for the fake she is. She hates the Bible yet pretending to like it is part of her “Christian” Left persona. She’s about as Christian as Bart Ehrman, but he’s at least (somewhat) more honest than her.

She basically equivocates on all her key terms. Take the title, for instance. She uses a key theological term (“inspired”) but once she starts typing it obvious that she thinks the Bible is anything but.

Yep the double speak and equivocation is incredible; but her being a witty word smiths is not enough when there are fallacies and contradictions in her methods and views. Pray for me as I read through this book and write posts on it.

Oh…I am so tired of feminist pushing their sinful thoughts on the masses. Of course their mentors and friends are on the same broken path. That ‘s why they have such a love affair. Thankfully there are some out there to challenge them .

Her eye sight has improved. She goes back to Dr. this next week to find out about her shoulder ( rotater (sp ) Probably surgery will be required and this complicateds her life. She has a stroke patient ( husband ) to care for. Hopefully he can go to VA for a couple of weeks then ???He is totally dependent on her…can’t do or communicate at all…going on 7 years.

Thanks for the review of the book’s intro. I’m looking forward to future installments. Yes, as you point out extremely well, liberals/errantists often use the very same tactics they accuse believers of. Did you catch her endorsement of the Catholic practices of Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation? They are the hot fads within pop evangelicalism.

“Did you catch her endorsement of the Catholic practices of Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation?” I did! That can be another post in of itself, there’s too many problems to write about and I realized almost all my day has been spent writing what was found in this post alone so I eventually pressed “Published!” You should do a post on your blog in response to the quote mentioned concerning Lectio Divina and Ignatian meditation since you know more about that area than I do, I would later edit this post and give a link to your post if you don’t mind.

” that’s just your opinion”. The constant refrain of the modern liberal, concerning biblical truths. They deny absolutes with subjective nonsensical slogans. ” It is absolutely true that there are no absolutes” or ” there is no true truth”. They assert that faith and reason are incompatible when the opposite is true. Liberalism and reason are incompatible. In fact it is liberals who reject logic. they reject it because it lead to absolutes.
using sound hermenutics the bible cannot be made to mean what you want it to. Only by starting with a bias to prove what you desire to prove, can the bible be twisted to say that which you hoped it to say.

I’m encouraged to hear of your prayers for her. If the Lord moves you to it pray for me too as I write more posts refuting her book, that I do so accurately reflecting her views, that I use Scripture properly and I am gracious while being logical.

Kaden Kole,
How come you are not open minded yourself? This post makes a valid point. Consider point two about the problem of Evans:
“Rachel “cover artist” approach also contradicts her own view “stop trying to force the Bible to be something it’s not” that she stated two paragraphs later. On the one hand one engages the Bible by doing new “covers” and “remix” of it in a manner that is explicitly described as the opposite of “squinting and studying” the Bible to get its meaning. Yet on the other hand she wants readers to not force the Bible to be something it is not, since what the Bible objectively is, matters. She’s a walking contradiction.”

She is a walking contradiction as you pointed out: “On the one hand one engages the Bible by doing new “covers” and “remix” of it in a manner that is explicitly described as the opposite of “squinting and studying” the Bible to get its meaning. Yet on the other hand she wants readers to not force the Bible to be something it is not, since what the Bible objectively is, matters. She’s a walking contradiction.”

After her death her followers start acting like little jihadists roaming the internet and harassing those who disagree with her saying “how dare you?” to shame into silence those who speak the truth. Those who disagree with her who are conservative Christians never reached the level of contempt Rachel had for Bible believers and some of her followers hatred with their cussing and wish of ill upon others is even worst. Thank you for refuting this saint of ex-evangelicals.

I want to pass along some very important news that everyone needs to hear!

In December of 2017, Donald Trump made history by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Why is this big news? Because by this the Jewish people of Israel are now able to press forward in bringing about the Third Temple prophesied in the Bible.

Jewish Rabbis have publicly announced that their Messiah will be revealed in the coming years who will be a leader and spiritual guide to all nations, gathering all religions under the worship of one God.

Biblical prophecy tells us that this Jewish Messiah who will take the stage will be the antichrist “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). For a time he will bring about a false peace, but “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15)…then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).

More importantly, the power that runs the world wants to put a RFID microchip in our body making us total slaves to them. This chip matches perfectly with the Mark of the Beast in the Bible, more specifically in Revelation 13:16-18:

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

Referring to the last days, this could only be speaking of a cashless society, which we have yet to see, but are heading towards. Otherwise, we could still buy or sell without the mark amongst others if physical money was still currency. This Mark couldn’t be spiritual because the word references two different physical locations. If it was spiritual it would just say in the forehead. RFID microchip implant technology will be the future of a one world cashless society containing digital currency. It will be implanted in the right-hand or the forehead, and we cannot buy or sell without it. Revelation 13:11-18 tells us that a false prophet will arise on the world scene doing miracles before men, deceiving them to receive this Mark. Do not be deceived! We must grow strong in Jesus. AT ALL COSTS, DO NOT TAKE IT!

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).

People have been saying the end is coming for many years, but we needed two key things. One, the Third Temple, and two, the technology for a cashless society to fulfill the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast.

If you haven’t already, it is time to seek God with all your heart. Jesus loves you more than you could imagine. He wants to have a relationship with you and redeem you from your sins. Turn to Him and repent while there is still hope! This is forever…God bless!

“EITHER HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ULTIMATELY OWES ITS ORIGIN TO MINDLESS MATTER OR THERE IS A CREATOR…” – JOHN LENNOX

We all know God exists. Why? Because without Him, we couldn’t prove anything at all. Do we live our lives as if we cannot know anything? No. So why is God necessary? In order to know anything for certain, you would have to know everything, or have revelation from somebody who does. Who is capable of knowing everything? God. So to know anything, you would have to be God, or know God.

A worldview without God cannot account for the uniformity and intelligibility of nature. And why is it that we can even reason that God is the best explanation for this if there is no God? We are given reason to know or reject God, but never to know that He does not exist.

It has been calculated by Roger Penrose that the odds of the initial conditions for the big bang to produce the universe that we see to be a number so big, that we could put a zero on every particle in the universe, and even that would not be enough to use every zero. What are the odds that God created the universe? Odds are no such thing. Who of you would gamble your life on one coin flip?

Is there evidence that the Bible is the truth? Yes. Did you know that the creation accounts listed in the book of Genesis are not only all correct, but are also in the correct chronological order? That the Bible doesn’t say the Earth was formed in six 24-hour days but rather six long but finite periods of time? That the Bible makes 10 times more creation claims than all major “holy” books combined with no contradictions, while these other books have errors in them? The Bible stood alone by concurring with the big bang saying, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1); and says our universe is expanding, thousands of years before scientists discovered these things. Watch a potential life-changing video on the website listed below with Astronomer(PhD) Hugh Ross explaining all these facts based on published scientific data. He has authored many books, backed even by atheist scientists.

Jesus came to pay a debt that we could not; to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him, through faith, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says if we wish to enter into life to keep the commands! The two greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself. All the law hang on these commands. We must be born of and lead by the Holy Spirit, to be called children of God, to inherit the kingdom. If we are willing to humble ourselves in prayer to Jesus, to confess and forsake our sins, He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking of Him; giving us a new heart, leading us into all truth!

Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels due to disobedience to God’s law. If we do the same, what makes us any different than the devil? Jesus says unless we repent, we shall perish. For sin is the transgression of the law. We must walk in the Spirit so we may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, being hatred, fornication, drunkenness and the like. Whoever practices such things will not inherit the kingdom (Galatians 5:16-26). If we sin, we may come before Jesus to ask for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Evil thoughts are not sins, but rather temptations. It is not until these thoughts conceive and give birth by our own desires that they become sin (James 1:12-15). When we sin, we become in the likeness of the devil’s image, for he who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8); but if we obey Jesus, in the image of God. For without holiness, we shall not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

The oldest religion in the world is holiness through faith (James 1:27). What religion did Adam and Eve follow before the fall? Jesus, Who became the last Adam, what religion does He follow? Is He not holy? He never told us to follow the rituals and traditions of man but to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There are many false doctrines being taught leading people astray. This is why we need the Holy Spirit for discernment. Unlike religion, holiness cannot be created. It is given to us from above by the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus is more than a religion; He is about having a personal relationship with the Father. Start by reading the Gospel of Matthew, to hear the words of God, to know His character and commandments. Follow and obey Jesus, for He is the way, the truth, and the life!

Jesus came to pay a debt that we could not; to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him, through faith, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says if we wish to enter into life to keep the commands! The two greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself. All the law hang on these commands. We must be born of and lead by the Holy Spirit, to be called children of God, to inherit the kingdom. If we are willing to humble ourselves in prayer to Jesus, to confess and forsake our sins, He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking of Him; giving us a new heart, leading us into all truth!

Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels due to disobedience to God’s law. If we do the same, what makes us any different than the devil? Jesus says unless we repent, we shall perish. For sin is the transgression of the law. We must walk in the Spirit so we may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, being hatred, fornication, drunkenness and the like. Whoever practices such things will not inherit the kingdom (Galatians 5:16-26). If we sin, we may come before Jesus to ask for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Evil thoughts are not sins, but rather temptations. It is not until these thoughts conceive and give birth by our own desires that they become sin (James 1:12-15). When we sin, we become in the likeness of the devil’s image, for he who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8); but if we obey Jesus, in the image of God. For without holiness, we shall not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

The oldest religion in the world is holiness through faith (James 1:27). What religion did Adam and Eve follow before the fall? Jesus, Who became the last Adam, what religion does He follow? Is He not holy? He never told us to follow the rituals and traditions of man but to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There are many false doctrines being taught leading people astray. This is why we need the Holy Spirit for discernment. Unlike religion, holiness cannot be created. It is given to us from above by the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus is more than a religion; He is about having a personal relationship with the Father. Start by reading the Gospel of Matthew, to hear the words of God, to know His character and commandments. Follow and obey Jesus, for He is the way, the truth, and the life!

Jesus came to pay a debt that we could not; to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him, through faith, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says if we wish to enter into life to keep the commands! The two greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself. All the law hang on these commands. We must be born of and lead by the Holy Spirit, to be called children of God, to inherit the kingdom. If we are willing to humble ourselves in prayer to Jesus, to confess and forsake our sins, He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking of Him; giving us a new heart, leading us into all truth!

Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels due to disobedience to God’s law. If we do the same, what makes us any different than the devil? Jesus says unless we repent, we shall perish. For sin is the transgression of the law. We must walk in the Spirit so we may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, being hatred, fornication, drunkenness and the like. Whoever practices such things will not inherit the kingdom (Galatians 5:16-26). If we sin, we may come before Jesus to ask for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Evil thoughts are not sins, but rather temptations. It is not until these thoughts conceive and give birth by our own desires that they become sin (James 1:12-15). When we sin, we become in the likeness of the devil’s image, for he who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8); but if we obey Jesus, in the image of God. For without holiness, we shall not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

The oldest religion in the world is holiness through faith (James 1:27). What religion did Adam and Eve follow before the fall? Jesus, Who became the last Adam, what religion does He follow? Is He not holy? He never told us to follow the rituals and traditions of man but to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There are many false doctrines being taught leading people astray. This is why we need the Holy Spirit for discernment. Unlike religion, holiness cannot be created. It is given to us from above by the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus is more than a religion; He is about having a personal relationship with the Father. Start by reading the Gospel of Matthew, to hear the words of God, to know His character and commandments. Follow and obey Jesus, for He is the way, the truth, and the life!

Jesus fulfilled more than 300 Messianic prophecies concerning His birth place, details of His life, His mission, His nature, His death, and His resurrection. He came to pay a debt that we could not, to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

To brag that people haven’t responded to her yet has got to be the stupidest thing someone can say. Because people will respond to her book, its a question of when reviews and legitimate criticism get written